Affordable equipment and newer technologies make home theaters within everyone’s reach

Movie Night at the Joneses

It used to be the only way to get the motion picture experience was to pack the family into the station wagon and head out to the local Cineplex, drop a ton of money on movie tickets and snacks, file into a crowded room full of strangers, and sit silently in cramped chairs without the ability to pause the show for a snack or bathroom break.

Then, in the 1980s, came the VCR. And while it didn’t immediately put movie theaters out of business as some warned, it did introduce moviegoers to an entirely new concept in viewing — in the comfort of their own easy chairs — and inaugurated a home-theater revolution.

“It became an opportunity to bring the family together to enjoy their leisure time,” says Anthony P. Hazapis, owner of Hippo’s Home Entertainment Center in Albany. “We go to the movies for the big picture and the big sound, and now with a good home theater you can enjoy both in your own home.”

Indeed, in 2011, consumers spent $18 billion to buy or rent DVDs and Blu-ray discs, stream and download movies and TV episodes from the Internet, and access video-on-demand, while theater box office sales have been on the decline, accounting for only $9.9 billion in 2011, according to Digital Trends 2012, a publication of the Consumer Electronics Association.

Some homeowners hire professionals to set up elaborate home theater rooms, actually recreating a small cinema with projection equipment, hidden speakers, roomy leather cinema chairs, popcorn and candy, movie posters, and video collections sorted by genre. But getting the big-screen experience can be as simple and as affordable as self-installing a few specialized electronics in a family room.

“You don’t need special seating or a dedicated room,” Hazapis says. “It’s an option and certainly many people do that, but a lot of people use the couch that’s in their family room and put a big television and surround sound in because it’s a central, comfortable room where people already congregate.”

And while the cost can vary depending on budget and individual needs, “on average, the sweet spot,” he says, “is probably in the $6,000 to $10,000 range.”

“It’s all a matter of everybody has a different budget for their discretionary purchases,” he says. “I’ve been in million-dollar home theaters, and since the first of the year we’ve done a couple of $40,000 ones.”

But don’t let the name fool you. Home theaters are not just for movies, says Hazapis. “When you’re watching the Super Bowl and you hear cheering all around you, it’s almost as if you’re in the stadium. It’s an excellent experience.”

Getting Started

The basic components of a home theater include a large-screen television, a surround-sound speaker system, an audio/video receiver, and a source — or multiple sources — to bring in content. Here’s what to look for, according to Consumer Electronics Association trends and research information:

Viewing — televisions are available up to 90 inches and after that, home theaters often use projectors and screens. Look for 3DTVs, smart TVs with Internet connectivity and apps built-in, 4K and 8K displays with four and 16 times the resolution as the best of today’s HDTVs, respectively, and organic LED TVs, which offer a better picture and thinner screen.

Hearing — the so-called Home Theater in a Box provides affordable starter speakers with fairly simple connectivity. A surround sound setup has five to seven speakers.

Measure the distance (in inches) from the television to the seats, divide by two and write that figure down. Then, divide by three and write that figure down. The set’s size should range between the two figures you recorded.

Many sets on the market are full 1080p. Movie buffs and home theater enthusiasts looking for the true cinema experience will want a set that displays 1080/24p (24 frames per second, the frame rate at which movies are filmed). On the other hand, if you are purchasing a TV for more casual viewing, such as in a kitchen or bedroom, a 480p or 720p display may be an adequate choice.

LED Photo: (c) Getty Images/Steven Puetzer

4. Select a display type:

Plasma offers deep blacks and rich colors, can be viewed from wider angles and achieve their best performance in light-controlled or darker rooms.

LCD Photo: (c) Getty Images/Sarah Palmer

LCD (liquid crystal display) excels in brighter rooms where reflections and ambient light can wash out a plasma’s picture. They consume less power than plasma displays.

LED (light-emitting diode) has a higher contrast ratio, brighter and more accurate colors and less power consumption.

DLP (digital light processing) produces vivid colors and deep blacks, making it a great choice for front and rear projection.